2010 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

BRAKING WHILE DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE CAUSES THE 2010 PRIUS TO MOMENTARILY FEEL LIKE IT'S ACCELERATING RATHER THAN BRAKING. THIS HAS RESULTED IN NEAR-ACCIDENTS A COUPLE OF TIMES. THIS HAPPENS MORE CONSISTENTLY WHEN TURNING WHILE BRAKING OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT. I CAN REPEAT THIS RELIABLY IN SPECIFIC LOCATION, AND IT HAPPENS ELSEWHERE TOO.*TR

I OWN A 2010 CLASS III TOYOTA PRIUS. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I HAVE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKES SEEMED TO RELEASE, CAUSING THE CAR TO SURGE FORWARD, BEFORE THE BRAKES RE-ENGAGED. ONCE THIS OCCURRED WHEN I HIT A MANHOLE COVER AND ONCE ON A SLIPPERY ROAD BUT IT HAS ALSO OCCURRED ON DRY ROADS WITH NO APPARENT REASON FOR THE FAILURE. I TOOK THE CARE TO THE DEALER ON 30 JANUARY 2010 WHO ADVISED ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY BRAKES. *TR

ALL THREE DRIVERS OF OUR 2010 PRIUS HAVE REPEATEDLY EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING BRAKING PROBLEM: IF YOU DRIVE OVER A BUMP, POT HOLE OR MANHOLE COVER WHILE BRAKING NORMALLY AT SPEEDS UNDER 25 MPH, THE BRAKES FEEL AS IF THEY INSTANTANEOUSLY DISENGAGE FOR ABOUT 1 SECOND. NORMAL BRAKING SOON RETURNS, BUT THERE IS A DANGEROUS INCREASE IN BREAKING DISTANCE WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED CERTAIN ROAD LOCATIONS IN OUR AREA WHERE THIS PROBLEM IS REPEATABLE EVEN UNDER DRY ROAD CONDITIONS. THIS PROBLEM HAS RESULTED IN A FEW CLOSE CALLS, BUT SO FAR, NO ACCIDENTS. HOWEVER, I AM ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED THAT A DEFECT SUCH AS THIS WILL RESULT IN SOME DRIVERS HAVING ACCIDENTS. *TW *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). [XXX] TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I PURCHASED A PRIUS 2010 IN THE SUMMER OF 2009. I CALLED MY DEALER A WEEK AGO TO REPORT THAT I TOO HAD EXPERIENCED THE BRAKING ISSUE THAT WAS REPORTED ON THE NEWS. I WAS NOT SURE IF THE CAR WAS SKIDDING THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED IT, I WAS GOING SLOWLY AND BRAKED OVER A SLIPPERY PATCH AND THE CAR LURCHED BEFORE BRAKING, BUT THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN OVER A ROUGH SURFACE. WHEN I REPORTED THIS TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF MY DEALER, CONICELLI TOYOTA OF SPRINGFIELD, PA, I WAS TOLD THAT NO RECALL HAD BEEN ANNOUNCED, NO OTHER CONCERN OR CARE WAS GIVEN TO ME AT THAT TIME. I DID ASK FOR THE CONTACT INFORMATION OF THE COMPANY AND WAS GIVEN AN 800 NUMBER AND THE WEBSITE. I TRIED CALLING THE CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE OF TOYOTA TWICE TO REPORT MY EXPERIENCE, AND WAS ON HOLD FOR OVER 10 MINUTES BEFORE HANGING UP WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO LEAVE A MESSAGE. I CONTACTED MY DEALER AGAIN AND SPOKE WITH THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS MANAGER, I ASKED THAT THEY REPORT MY EXPERIENCE TO YOU AND THAT THEY WORK TO ADVOCATE FOR A SOLUTION FOR THE BRAKE ISSUE. I AM AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM THEM. I AGAIN TRIED THE 800 NUMBER WITHOUT SUCCESS AND THEN ACCESSED YOUR WEBSITE. I WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A PLACE TO SEND OR POST MY COMMENT/CONCERN, SO I WROTE THIS LETTER. PLEASE ADD ME TO THE 210 COMPLAINTS REPORTED FOR THE PRIUS BRAKING PROBLEM. I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT TOYOTA 'FIXED' THE PROBLEM ON THE PRODUCTION LINE BUT WAS NOT PROACTIVE IN FINDING A CORRECTION FOR THE MODELS PRODUCED BEFORE JANUARY 2010. I WILL BE CONTACTING MY LAWYER AND OTHER AUTHORITIES ABOUT THIS ISSUE. MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND THOSE THAT SHARE THE ROAD WITH ME ARE OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO ME. I AM CONCERNED THAT THEY ARE NOT OF THE UTMOST CONCERN OF TOYOTA, WHO WOULD LEAVE US ALL AT RISK UNLESS PUBLIC PRESSURE IS BROUGHT TO BEAR. . [XXX] *TR

25 JANUARY 2010, CORNER OF RUFUS ALLEN AND HWY. 50 SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIFORNIA, 96150, AT APPROXIMATELY 1630 LOCAL. ROAD CONDITIONS MOSTLY DRY 65% / 35% THIN PATCHY ICE, SMOOTH SURFACE NO POTHOLES. APPLIED BRAKES CAR LURCHED FORWARD, MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKES UNTIL MORE FIRM BRAKE APPLICATION WAS APPLIED UNTIL BRAKING SYSTEM RESPONDED AND CAR STOPPED SHORT OF INTERSECTION, NO TRAFFIC VIOLATION, INCIDENT OF DAMAGE. *TR

MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS WILL HAVE A REDUCTION IN BRAKING POWER. IT WILL GIVE THE ILLUSION OF ACCELERATION, BUT I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS A REDUCTION IN BRAKING POWER. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY AND I FREQUENTLY EXPERIENCE IT IN A LOCATION I REGULARLY DRIVE. AS I APPROACH A 4-WAY STOP THERE IS A BUMP THAT COVERS THE WIDTH OF MY LANE. AS THE FRONT TIRES GO OVER THE BUMP THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT START TO TAKE OFF JUST SHORT OF THE STOPPING POINT. IT QUICKLY RECOVERS AND I AM ALWAYS ABLE TO STOP, BUT THE FEELINGS IS UNNERVING SINCE IT HAPPENS SO CLOSE TO THE STOPPING POINT. I HAVE CONTACTED MY TOYOTA DEALER, BUT THEY SAY THEY HAVE NO REPORTED PROBLEMS AND DID NOT EVEN TAKE ANY INFORMATION. *TR

I HAVE A 2010 PRIUS AND SAW AN ARTICLE ABOUT THERE BEING POSSIBLE BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH THE MODEL. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM PROBABLY ABOUT 6 TIMES SINCE I GOT THE CAR LAST JULY AND, WHEN I MENTIONED IT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THERE WASN'T ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES WHEN THEY RAN THE DIAGNOSTIC. WHEN IT HAPPENS, I'M IN THE PROCESS OF BRAKING, AND THERE'S A "PUSH", ALMOST LIKE THE BRAKES DIDN'T "TAKE", FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF STEERING FOR A SECOND OR TWO. IT'S ALSO HAPPENED TO MY HUSBAND ONE TIME. THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY RHYME OR REASON AS TO WHEN IT HAPPENS (WET ROAD VS. DRY ROAD, TURNING OR GOING STRAIGHT, FLAT OR HILL). I ORIGINALLY ASSOCIATED THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES BECAUSE I ALSO HAVE THE "SLIDING" ICON COME ON THE DASHBOARD WHEN I'M COMPLETELY STOPPED AND LEAN FORWARD IN MY SEATBELT. HOWEVER, I'M NOW WONDERING IF IT'S NOT THE BRAKES, BUT THE TRANSMISSION, SINCE IT SORT OF FEELS LIKE IT'S NOT DOWNSHIFTING WHEN IT'S SUPPOSED TO, OR IT SHIFTS BACK INTO A HIGHER GEAR FOR A SECOND WHILE BRAKING. I CAME TO THIS CONCLUSION AFTER WAITING IN THE CAR WHILE IT WAS RUNNING. WITH THE CAR ON, EMERGENCY BRAKE ON, BUT NOT IN PARK, THERE WAS A DEFINITE "JOLT" WHEN THE GAS ENGINE WOULD TURN ON AND THEN OFF AGAIN A FEW MINUTES LATER. ALTHOUGH THERE HASN'T BEEN A CRASH YET, THERE WERE TWO TIMES WHEN IT CAME REALLY CLOSE TO THAT, AS I WAS TURNING AND ALMOST HIT THE CARS ON THE SIDE STREET THAT WERE IN THE LEFT TURN LANE WAITING TO TURN ONTO THE STREET I HAD BEEN TRAVELING ON. *TR

I OWN A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS II. I'VE NOTICED THAT WHEN I RUN OVER A BUMP OR A POTHOLE ON THE ROAD, THE CAR SEEMS TO ACCELERATE OR JOLT FORWARD. IT HAPPENS WHILE I BRAKE TO A STOP SIGN AND RUN OVER A BUMP OR POTHOLE. IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED WHILE LETTING GO OF THE GAS PEDAL BUT NOT STEPPING ON THE BRAKE. THEREFORE, I HAVE TO QUICKLY STEP ON THE BRAKE EVEN HARDER TO STOP OR SLOW DOWN THE CAR. DURING ONE INCIDENT, I NEARLY RAN INTO A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING THE STREET. IT WAS A 4 WAY STOP AND I APPROACHED SLOWLY. THE PEDESTRIAN WAS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE AND HE HAD THE RIGHT OF WAY. I SLOWLY APPROACHED AND AS MY TIRE RAN OVER THE PAINED "STOP" ON THE PAVEMENT, MY VEHICLE JOLTED FORWARD. IT WAS A CLOSE CALL AND IT SCARED THE PEDESTRIAN AND MYSELF. I WENT TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND HAS ASKED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY DON'T OR HAVE NOT HAD ANY COMPLAINTS. TOLD ME THAT MINE WAS PROBABLY AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. I WENT HOME AND GOOGLED TO SEE IF OTHER PRIUS DRIVERS HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE. I WAS SHOCKED TO HAVE READ A FEW INCIDENTS OF OTHER PRIUS OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING. WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS MATTER IF TOYOTA CLAIMS THAT MY EXPERIENCE WAS ISOLATED. GOING BACK TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WON'T RESOLVE ANYTHING. *TR

MY TOYOTA PRUIS 2010 WHICH I PURCHASED ON NOV.30 2009 HAD UNEXPECTEDLY LURCHED FORWARD WHEN I WAS SLOWING DOWN AND APPLYING THE BRAKE. I WAS TAKEN BY SURPRISE AND FORTUNATELY IT STOPPED AFTER I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE VERY HARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ALREADY. *JB

AS I WAS APPLYING MY BRAKE MY CAR WENT OVER A BUMP, MOST LIKELY A MAN HOLE COVER, FOR A SPLIT SECOND I FELT LIKE THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING, THEN IT WENT BACK TO NORMAL. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2010 PRIUS (BUILT BEFORE JANUARY, 2010) ON ICY CONDITIONS. I COASTED TO A STOP SIGN AND APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE CAR SEEMED TO IGNORE MY BRAKING AND CONTINUED THROUGH THE STOP SIGN 2-3 FEET. I ATTRIBUTED THE PROBLEM TO THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND PROCEEDED WITH CAUTION. AT THE NEXT STOP SIGN, I WAS ESPECIALLY CAREFUL, BUT WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE CAR SEEMED TO SURGE FORWARD FOR 1-2 SECONDS, ENOUGH TIME TO PUT ME IN THE PATH OF AN ONCOMING PICK-UP TRUCK. NOBODY WAS HURT, BUT THE DAMAGE WILL COME TO ABOUT $11,000. AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE PRIUS' BRAKE PROBLEMS, I REALIZED THAT THE LACK OF BRAKE ACTION THAT I EXPERIENCED IS VERY SIMILAR TO OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT PRIUS' BUILT PRIOR TO TOYOTA'S JANUARY PROGRAMMING FIX. I AM UPSET THAT TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT FAILED TO TELL ME ABOUT IT. AS A RESULT, I WILL END UP WITH A LESS VALUABLE REPAIRED VEHICLE WITH A KNOWN BRAKE DEFECT AND HIGHER INSURANCE RATES WHICH WILL PLAGUE MY WALLET FOR YEARS TO COME. *TR

ENTIRE SYSTEM SHUT DOWN TOW SERVICE FROM DEALER CAME AND CHARGED BATTERY TO NO AVAIL SYSTEM CAME BACK ONLINE AS VEHICLE WAS BEING RAISED ON FLATBED TOW TRUCK CAR WAS THEN DRIVEN AWAY UNDER ITS OWN POWER DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM PROBLEM HAS NOT REOCCURRED BRAKE DELAY PROBLEM WHICH OCCURRED PRIOR TO SYSTEM SHUTDOWN HAS RECOCCURRED BRAKE DELAY OR TEMPORARY LOSS OF BRAKING WHEN PEDDLE DEPRESSED HAS OCCURRED BRAKE SQUEEK ALSO REPORTED TO DELALER WHO ADVISES THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH BRAKES *CN

I PURCHASED A PRIUS 2010 IN THE SUMMER OF 2009. I CALLED MY DEALER A WEEK AGO TO REPORT THAT I TOO HAD EXPERIENCED THE BRAKING ISSUE THAT WAS REPORTED ON THE NEWS. I WAS NOT SURE IF THE CAR WAS SKIDDING THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED IT, I WAS GOING SLOWLY AND PUT ON BRAKES OVER A SLIPPERY PATCH AND THE CAR LURCHED BEFORE BRAKING, BUT THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN OVER A ROUGH SURFACE. WHEN I REPORTED THIS TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF MY DEALER, CONICELLI TOYOTA OF SPRINGFIELD, PA, I WAS TOLD THAT NO RECALL HAD BEEN ANNOUNCED, NO OTHER CONCERN OR CARE WAS GIVEN TO ME AT THAT TIME. I DID ASK FOR THE CONTACT INFORMATION OF THE COMPANY AND WAS GIVEN AN 800 NUMBER AND THE WEBSITE. I TRIED CALLING THE CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE OF TOYOTA TWICE TO REPORT MY EXPERIENCE, AND WAS ON HOLD FOR OVER 10 MINUTES BEFORE HANGING UP WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO LEAVE A MESSAGE. I CONTACTED MY DEALER AGAIN AND SPOKE WITH THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS MANAGER, I ASKED THAT THEY REPORT MY EXPERIENCE TO YOU AND THAT THEY WORK TO ADVOCATE FOR A SOLUTION FOR THE BRAKE ISSUE. I AM AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM THEM. I AGAIN TRIED THE 800 NUMBER WITHOUT SUCCESS AND THEN ACCESSED YOUR WEBSITE. I WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A PLACE TO SEND OR POST MY COMMENT/CONCERN, SO I AM WRITING THIS LETTER. PLEASE ADD ME TO THE 210 COMPLAINTS YOU HAVE REPORTED FOR THE PRIUS BRAKING PROBLEM. I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT TOYOTA 'FIXED' THE PROBLEM ON THE PRODUCTION LINE BUT WAS NOT PROACTIVE IN FINDING A CORRECTION FOR THE MODELS PRODUCED BEFORE JANUARY 2010. I WILL BE CONTACTING MY LAWYER AND OTHER AUTHORITIES ABOUT THIS ISSUE. MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND THOSE THAT SHARE THE ROAD WITH ME ARE OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO ME. I AM CONCERNED THAT THEY ARE NOT OF THE UTMOST CONCERN OF TOYOTA, WHO WOULD LEAVE US ALL AT RISK UNLESS PUBLIC PRESSURE IS BROUGHT TO BEAR. *TR

WHILE BRAKING AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 25 MPH, WHEELS HIT A POTHOLE AND THE CAR SEEMED TO ACCELERATE AND LURCH FORWARD FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND BEFORE BRAKING RESUMED. *TR

MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS 1) LURCHES FORWARD WHEN BRAKING WHILE DRIVING ON AN UNEVEN SURFACE, LIKE A POTHOLE, INDENT/CREVICE IN ROAD, ETC. 2) THE BRAKES REPEATEDLY GRAB AND CAUSE THE CAR TO LURCH WHEN BACKING UP ON AN UNEVEN/SLIPPERY SURFACE. BOTH PROBLEMS SEEM TO HAPPEN WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE AND BRAKING AT A SLOWER SPEED. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES (APPROXIMATELY 4-5) SINCE PURCHASING THE PRIUS IN JUNE 2009. *CN

I HAD MY NEW TOYOTA PRIUS ABOUT 4 DAYS. ON SATURDAY MORNING, 1/23/10, I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. THERE WAS ICE, BUT WHEN I GENTLY PUT ON MY BRAKES, I FELT NOTHING. TWO SECONDS LATER AFTER SLIDING TO THE END OF MY DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKES CAUGHT. I WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FEELING WAS QUITE ODD, BUT CHALKED IT UP TO THE ICE. THEN THE NEXT MORNING, IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHEN THERE WAS NO ICE, BUT WET ROADS, FIRST COMING TO ONE STOP LIGHT AND THEN ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER AT ANOTHER STOP LIGHT. THE SAME FEELING--PUTTING ON THE BRAKES AND HITTING AIR--THEN 2 SECONDS LATER THE BRAKES GRABBED. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND LEFT IT, CITING BRAKE FAILURE. THEY HAD IT ABOUT 2 DAYS AND NO ONE BELIEVED ME. SAID IT WAS FINE. YESTERDAY, 2/1/10, AND AGAIN TODAY, 2/2/10, IT DID IT AGAIN TO AND FROM WORK. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THAT CAR. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. *TR

2010 PRIUS BRAKES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY WHEN HITTING A SLICK MANHOLE COVER - CAR ACTUALLY LUNGES FORWARD. SEEMS TO BE A SOFTWARE GLITCH WHEN REGENERATIVE BRAKING IS TAKING PLACE AND ONE OR MORE WHEELS CAN SLIP ON THE ROAD SURFACE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING OUR 2010 PRIUS ON OR AROUND JAN 23RD AT AROUND 2:30PM CST, SAW A POT HOLE AHEAD AND STARTED BRAKING. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WENT OVER THE POT HOLE BUT THE BRAKES SKIPPED AND THE VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP AND CONTINUED TO MOVE AHEAD WITH THE SAME SPEED. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS THERE IN FRONT. RE-APPLIED THE BRAKES AGAIN QUICKLY TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. *TR

WHILE SLOWING DOWN WITH THE BRAKES, WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR POTHOLE ON THE ROAD, MY CAR LURCHES FORWARD FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND I LOSE CONTROL OF THE ABILITY TO BAKE. *JB

THE BRAKES ON MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS FAILED TO ENGAGE WHILE DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE. THE CAR SEEMED TO ACCELERATE BRIEFLY BUT THEN THE BRAKES KICKED IN ONCE I HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN HARDER. THIS IS THE THIRD INCIDENT OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JULY 2009. *JB

REGARDING MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS: BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE. IT WAS RAINING; I WAS SLOWING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN INTO A PARKING LOT AND MERGED INTO THE TURN LANE, APPLIED THE BRAKES JUST PRIOR TO DRIVING OVER A DRAINAGE GRATE, AND CAR'S BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. I RELEASED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THEN RE-ENGAGED IT, WHEREAS THE BRAKES RESPONDED. INCIDENTS VERY SIMILAR TO THIS HAPPENED TWO PRIOR TIMES WHEN BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY (NOT RAINING). THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ALSO GOES ON UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR WHEN COASTING TO A STOP (NOT STOPPING SUDDENLY). WHEN THIS HAPPENS, I HAVE TO PLACE THE CAR INTO PARK AND THEN BACK INTO DRIVE. I INQUIRED ABOUT THESE ISSUES WITH THE TOYOTA DEALER AND HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THEY HAVE HAD NO COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE WITH THEIR 2010 PRIUSES. *TR

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS II--PURCHASED AUGUST 2009. ON JANUARY 23, 2010 I CRASHED MY VEHICLE INTO A CAR THAT HAD STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME. I APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR BEFORE IT HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I AM CONTACTING YOU BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE BRAKE ISSUES WITH THE 2010 PRIUS MAY HAVE BEEN A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THE CRASH. IN THE 5 MONTHS THAT I OWNED THE CAR I REMARKED THAT THE BRAKES DID NOT SEEM TO FUNCTION LIKE ABS BRAKES ON OTHER CARS THAT I HAD DRIVEN. I CHALKED IT UP TO THE FACT THAT CAR WAS NEW TO ME AND HAD MANY FEATURES THAT WERE DIFFERENT FROM A TRADITIONAL CAR. *TR

WHEN MY 2010 PRIUS GOES OVER A POTHOLE IT SURGES AND BRAKES AREN'T RESPONSIVE ENOUGH TO PREVENT HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. SO FAR I HAVEN'T HIT ANY BODY OR ANOTHER VEHICLE.*TR

I HAVE A 2010 PRIUS. WHEN I HIT A POTHOLE WHILE STEPPING ON THE BRAKE, THE BRAKES LET GO. I HAVE TO REBRAKE. THE CAR ACTUALLY SEEMS TO SPEED UP. IT IS VERY FRIGHTENING. I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO THE DEALER. THEY SAY IT IS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. I HAVE HAD ANTI-LOCK BRAKES BEFORE AND NEVER HAVE HAD THAT KIND OF PROBLEM. *TR

YESTERDAY, I ONCE AGAIN EXPERIENCED AN ISSUE THAT I HAVE OBSERVED SINCE I GOT MY 2010 PRIUS IN OCTOBER 2009. THERE ARE TWO INTERSECTIONS CLOSE TO MY HOME THAT BOTH ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF A HILL AND HAVE POTHOLES ABOUT 5 YARDS FROM THE STOP SIGN. IN BOTH LOCATIONS, WHEN MY PRIUS HITS THE POTHOLES, I HAVE THE SENSATION THAT THE BRAKES RELEASE EVEN THOUGH I AM KEEPING PRESSURE ON THEM AS I APPROACH THE STOP SIGN. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN WITH OUR 2007 RAV4. I NOW KNOW THAT I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN AS IF THE STOP SIGN IS BEFORE THE POTHOLE, BUT I WORRY ABOUT MY WIFE DRIVING IT AND ABOUT A CONDITION THAT I WON'T BE PREPARED FOR. *TR

2010 PRIUS ACCELERATES WHEN DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMP, POT HOLE OR OTHER UNEVEN SURFACES. *TR

I HAVE A 2010 PRIUS AND WHEN I DROVE OVER A BUMP OR POT HOLE MY CAR FAILS TO ACCELERATE FORWARD AND LOSE ANY BRAKING FEELING (ALMOST TO WHERE I LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR). IT HAPPENS ONLY FOR A SHORT MOMENT. *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS 2010- WHEN WE GO INTO A POTHOLE AND APPLY THE BRAKE, THE BRAKE DOESN'T WORK. INSTEAD, IT ACCELERATES. ONCE, IT HIT A CURB AND DAMAGED THE BUMPER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH OVER A ROUGH SURFACE SHE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD MOMENTARILY DISENGAGE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 2500.

DRIVING AT VERY SLOW SPEED...BRAKING AT STOP SIGN BEHIND ANOTHER CAR; NEEDED TO HIT THE BRAKES--NOT QUITE "SLAM ON THE BRAKES" --AS I REALIZED I WAS CLOSER TO CAR IN FRONT OF ME THAN I'D THOUGHT. CAR IN FRONT OF ME PULLED AWAY AT THE SAME TIME (FORTUNATELY) AS MY CAR LURCHED FORWARD; I DIDN'T FEEL IT WAS GOING TO STOP; WHEN I THEN PROCEEDED CAR MADE HORRIBLE NOISES...SOUNDED I THOUGHT BOTTOM WAS GOING TO FALL OUT. HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME "NOT GOING TO STOP" FEELING A SECOND TIME SINCE. WHAT FOLLOWED? CALLED DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY; THEY SUGGESTED I COME IN FOR BRAKE CHECK, WHICH I DID FOLLOWING DAY. TOLD IT WAS GOING TO COST $125; WE DISCUSSED LIKELIHOOD THAT PROBLEM PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAPPEN FOR THE MECHANIC, I DECIDED AGAINST SPENDING MONEY FOR BRAKE CHECK UP WHEN SERVICE DEPT. TOLD ME IT WAS "JUST THE WAY PRIUS' ABS BRAKES WORK." WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THE NEWS REPORTS I'D HEARD ABOUT THIS BRAKING PROBLEM THEY DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT, POINTED TO ABSENCE OF INFO ON TOYOTA'S WEBSITE FOR SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AND SAID MEDIA OFTEN BLOWS THINGS OUT OF PROPORTION. CALLED TOYOTA CORP AND CASE MANAGER THAT RETURNED CALL TO ME HAD NO INFORMATION ABOUT MEDIA REPORTS I REFERRED TO. *TW

DRIVING ON SLIPPERY ROADS, BUT NOT UNPASSABLE, MY 2010 PRIUS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE IN PREVENTION OF SLIPPING INTO A PARKED VEHICLE IN MY LANE, RESULTING IN 2900+ DOLLARS OF DAMAGE, PLUS, SINCE THE BODY SHOP WAS UNABLE TO PROPERLY INSPECT THE DAMAGE WITHOUT TAKING THE CAR APART. I WAS FOUND AT FAULT FOR THIS ACCIDENT, FOR WHICH I FEAR MY INSURANCE RATES WILL RISE. I AM A SAFE DRIVER. NEVER HAVING HAD AN ACCIDENT BEFORE. I NEW THE CAR WAS NOT RESPONDING TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AS IT SHOULD, AND THAT WAS BEFORE THIS RECALL EVER CAME TO LIGHT. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON JAN. 22, 2010. *CN

I HAVE PURCHASED A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS, AND NEVER NOTICED ANY PROBLEM WITH MY BRAKING, UNTIL 1/22/10. I WAS DRIVING OVER A SECTION OF ROAD, THAT WAS UNEVEN WHERE A BRIDGE MEETS THE ROAD. I WAS BRAKING FOR THE STOPLIGHT AHEAD THAT WAS RED AND CARS WERE WAITING IN THE LINE. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES AT ABOUT 10 MPH, AND HIT THE UNEVEN ROAD SECTION, THE CAR SEEMED LIKE IT LOST BRAKING, FOR AN INSTANT. I HAD TO PUSH HARDER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO ASSURE A STOP. I HAVE SINCE DRIVEN THAT SAME SECTION OF ROAD TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND IT HAD REPEATED ITSELF, BUT NOT ON EVERY OCCASION. IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS SOME ISSUE WITH THE HYBRID BRAKE SYSTEM...BETWEEN REGENERATION AND FRICTION BUT NOT SURE WHAT THE ISSUE IS. I ONLY HAVE 3800 MILES ON THE CAR SO HAVE NOT CALLED THE DEALER FOR SERVICE YET. WILL PLAN TO DO THAT IF IT CAN WAIT UNTIL THE FIRST 5,000 MILE SERVICE. *CN

I OWN A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS IT FEELS AS THOUGH THIS VEHICLE HAS LOST BRAKING FORCE FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME (NO MORE THAN 1 SECOND) WHEN THE VEHICLE ENCOUNTERS AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE WHILE BRAKING. I BELIEVE THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS USING REGENERATIVE BREAKING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT'S LURCHING FORWARD BECAUSE THE BRAKING FORCE HAS BEEN REMOVED. ONCE I PRESS HARDER ON THE BRAKES TO FORCE THE FRICTION BRAKES TO APPLY, OR AFTER A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME, THE CAR DOES CONTINUE TO SLOW DOWN. I HAVE NOT YET HAD AN ACCIDENT OF ANY KIND, BUT I CAN IMAGINE HOW ONE COULD HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. *TR

WHILE BRAKING WHILE GOING THROUGH SHALLOW WATER AND SMALL POTHOLE, THE BRAKES FELT LIKE THEY SLIPPED. THE CAR STOPPED BRAKING FOR ABOUT A SECOND OR TWO. *TR

I HAVE EXPERIENCED AT LEAST THREE TIMES IN MY 2 MONTH OLD 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS A LURCH FORWARD WHEN BRAKING WHEN MY CAR DRIVES OVER A BUMP, POTHOLE, OR SOMETHING SLICK. MOST RECENTLY I WAS DRIVING DOWNHILL IN DENSE TRAFFIC AND THE LURCH FELT LIKE AN ACCELERATION. I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THIS BRAKING PROBLEM CLEARLY CAN BE A HAZARD TO SAFE DRIVING AND TO ANY PEDESTRIAN OR OTHER CLOSE VEHICLE. *TR

LOSS OF BRAKING AFTER HITTING POT HOLE ON FREEWAY AT LOW SPEED, LESS THAT 10 MPH, SIMILAR TO OTHER INCIDENCES ON THIS CAR.*CW

I WAS DRIVING MY 2010 PRIUS AND APPROACHED A STOP SIGN AT AN INTERSECTION ON A LOCAL ROAD. (AS I APPROACHED THE INTERSECTION I WAS PROBABLY DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH OR LESS). AFTER I HIT THE BRAKES AND HAD BEEN DECELERATING FOR A VERY BRIEF PERIOD, I WENT OVER A POTHOLE OR SOME SIMILAR PROTRUSION. AT THAT POINT, MY CAR LURCHED FORWARD, ALMOST HITTING ANOTHER CAR. THAT CAR HAD BEEN ABOUT HALF CAR LENGTH IN FRONT OF ME WHEN I HIT THE POTHOLE. *TR

MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT ARE LISTED ON THIS SITE WITH BRAKES. WHEN TRYING TO STOP IMMEDIATELY AFTER A BUMP OR POTHOLE AND DURING MINOR SLICK CONDITION THE BRAKES DON'T REACT IMMEDIATELY. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I SLID INTO AN INTERSECTION WITH MY BRAKES FULLY ENGAGED BEFORE THE BRAKES KICKED IN. THANK GOD NO CAR WAS IN FRONT OF ME. THE CAR BEHIND ME SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND SLOWED DOWN. THIS BRAKE PROBLEM OCCURS WEEKLY SINCE MY PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER 2009. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 20 MPH IN OVERCAST WEATHER CONDITIONS AND APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AT A BUSY INTERSECTION, THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED WITH CAUTION THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF ANY SIMILAR FAILURES. THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 1,400. UPDATED 03/18/10 *BF UPDATED 05/12/10.*JB

BRAKES FAIL MOMENTARILY WHEN DRIVING OVER POTHOLES AND BUMPS. *TR

IN JUNE I PURCHASED A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. I LIVE IN A COLD WINTER CLIMATE AND HAVE NOTICED THAT THE CAR BRAKES SEEM TO DISENGAGE FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME, PARTICULARLY AS I COME TO A STOP ON A SNOWY/ICE RUTTED ROAD, OR AM GOING OVER A BUMPY SURFACE. IF I LEAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, IT WILL REINGAGE QUICKLY. IN OTHER WORDS, I PUT ON THE BRAKE, AND THE CAR STARTS TO RESPOND BUT THEN "JUMPS AHEAD" AS IF IT'S SLIDING ON GLARE ICE BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, DEPENDING UPON THE CONDITION OF THE ROAD AT THE TIME. I HAVE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

I RECENTLY PURCHASED TOYOTA PRIUS 2010 AND ALREADY HAVE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO FAULTY BRAKE SYSTEM. WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED, THE CARE DOES NOT SLOW DOWN INSTANTLY BUT KIND OF ACCELERATES AND THE SLOWS DOWN WHICH IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

EXPERIENCED LACK OF BRAKING WHEN MY 2010 PRIUS WAS GOING OVER BUMPY TERRAIN. I WAS PRESSING ON THE BRAKE AS I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION, AND NO BRAKING WAS OCCURRING UNTIL THE CAR REACHED SMOOTH GROUND AGAIN. INSTEAD IT FELT LIKE I WAS SKIDDING, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL JUST VIBRATED BACK AT ME. I CAN CONFIRM THAT THE PROBLEM BEING REPORTED IN THE NEWS MEDIA IN JAPAN, IS IN FACT, A REAL PROBLEM. WHEN I HEARD ABOUT IT ON THE NEWS, I REALIZED, HEY, I EXPERIENCED THAT. I WOULD ENCOURAGE A RECALL. IT IS A LEGITIMATE PROBLEM THAT DOES INDEED SOMETIMES OCCUR IN THE SITUATION I DESCRIBED. IT IS SCARY. *TW

BRAKE FAILURE ON 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN GOING OVER A TRAFFIC BUMP ON A RAINY DAY, THE BRAKE FAILED FOR ABOUT 1-2 SECONDS BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO BRING IT TO A STOP AT THE TRAFFIC. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, NO PROPERTY DAMAGE. *TR

BACK IN 2010, WE NOTICED THAT, WHEN BRAKING, THE CAR WOULD LURCH FORWARD. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AT RANDOM. AT THAT TIME, WE TOOK THE CAR IN TO FIX THE PROBLEM. VICTORY TOYOTA IN CANTON, MICHIGAN, TOLD US THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG; THEIR DIAGNOSIS AND COMPUTERS SHOWED THAT NO ERRORS HAD OCCURRED. WE DROVE IT FOR A SHORT TIME, AND IT CONTINUED TO HAVE THE ISSUE. WE TOOK IT BACK IN TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY AGAIN SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THEY SAID THAT THEY TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE, AND NOTHING HAPPENED. WE WERE MADE TO THINK THAT THE ISSUE WAS IN OUR HEADS, SO WE TOOK THE CAR BACK AND TRIED TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE, EVEN THOUGH IT CONTINUED OVER THE YEARS. FINALLY, THIS YEAR, WE NEARLY GOT INTO TWO SEPARATE ACCIDENTS AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THIS SUDDEN LURCHING FORWARD. I TOOK THE CAR BACK INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF VICTORY TOYOTA, AND WAS TOLD BLUNTLY THAT THERE WAS NEVER A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE, THAT, UNLESS I COULD RECREATE THE PROBLEM WITH A TECHNICIAN IN THE CAR, I WAS MAKING THINGS UP. THAT IS WHAT LEAD TO THIS COMPLAINT. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THE CAR HAD INDEED BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS BRAKE ISSUE WITH RECALL ID # 68066. SO THEY LIED ABOUT THE RECALL HISTORY FOR MY CAR. ALSO, RECREATING SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS AT RANDOM DURING A FINITE TIME PERIOD, SUCH AS A TEST DRIVE, IS IMPROBABLE, AND TO MAKE SERVICING THE CAR CONTINGENT ON THAT TEST DRIVE IS LUDICROUS. I AM HOPING THAT, BY LODGING THIS COMPLAINT SOMETHING WILL GET DONE BEFORE MY WIFE, ME, OR/AND SOMEONE ELSE IS/ARE KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. *TR

THREE TIMES, TWICE WITH ME AND ONCE WITH MY WIFE, THE AUTOMOBILE ACCELERATED DURING BRAKING. THE ACCELERATION (OR LOSS OF BRAKES, IT'S HARD TO TELL) LASTED FOR ONLY A SECOND, BUT ENOUGH WHERE I HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKES WITH FORCE TO COME TO MY INTENDED STOP. I COULD HAVE EASILY ENDED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. *TR

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES WHEN THE BRAKES OF MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS HAVE RELEASED, OFTEN WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR AM GOING OVER A HILL. THE CAR FEELS AS IF IT'S SUDDENLY ACCELERATING EVEN THOUGH I AM PUSHING DOWN ON THE BRAKES. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 4 - 5 TIMES PER WEEK SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR IN JULY 2009. TODAY, I WAS UNABLE TO STOP AS I APPROACH AN INTERSECTION DESPITE PUSHING DOWN ON THE BRAKES. THE CAR HESITATED AND FINALLY THE BRAKES ENGAGED. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS COMING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION FOR IF THERE HAD BEEN, I SURELY WOULD HAVE HIT THEM. *TR

WHEN I AM BRAKING/SLOWING AND TURNING AND HIT A CURB OR CHUNK OF ICE, OR DRIVING STRAIGHT AND HIT A CHUNK OF ICE, MY 2010 PRIUS BRAKES WILL COMPLETELY GO AWAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES DURING THE PAST 3 WEEKS OF WINTER WEATHER. *TR

2010 PRIUS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 10 TIMES NOW. SOMETIMES WHEN I BRAKE, I EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN ACCELERATION. IT RANGES FROM SLIGHT TO A LURCH. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED, I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING ON THE ROAD AND IGNORED IT. WHEN IT WAS MORE PRONOUNCED AND HAPPENED A COUPLE OF MORE TIMES, I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID THEY HAD NO OTHER REPORTS AND COULD NOT REPLICATE IT. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOOK ME ON A TEST DRIVE AND THE CAR WAS FINE. I KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN AS THE ACCELERATION IS ONLY OCCASIONAL. I WAS ADVISED TO CALL TOYOTA NATIONAL, WHICH I DID, AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THIS COULD NOT BE REPLICATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND NO RECOURSE I HAD AS THE COMPLAINT COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE, SO I HAVE PAID CLOSE ATTENTION, AS MY HEART HAS BEEN RACING, TO THE CONDITIONS. IT HAS HAPPENED WHEN I AM BRAKING WHILE GOING OVER MANHOLES, SPEED STRIPS, CRACKS IN THE PAVEMENT. IT FEELS LIKE THE TIRE IS GETTING HUNG UP SLIGHTLY, DOESN'T GET ANY TRACTION.THE BRAKE MALFUNCTION LIGHT COMES ON. ALSO, ON THE MULTI-INFORMATION DISPLAY, THE INDICATOR HAS JUST MOVED FROM ECO TO CHG.THE OTHER DAY, IT WAS 34 DEGREES AND I WAS BRAKING AS I CAME UP TO A LIGHT AND THE CAR SLID AND VIBRATED. I WAS GOING ABOUT 5 MILES AN HOUR. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME BLACK ICE OR FROST ON THE GROUND, BUT THE SHAKING WAS INTENSE AND I HAD DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE CAR FOR A FEW SECONDS UNTIL I STOPPED. *TR

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL INSTANCES SINCE I PURCHASED MY 2010 PRIUS IN OCTOBER 2009 THAT I HAVE GONE OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND MY 2010 PRIUS HAS FELT LIKE IT'S SPEEDING UP AND I HAD TO PUSH HARD ON THE BRAKES TO FEEL LIKE I HAD CONTROL OF MY CAR. *TR